Improvement in telephone and microphone switches



A. E. BRIGG-S. Telephone andMiorophone Switches.

n PETERS. PHoTmLv'moskAPksa. WASHINGTON D c UNITED" S PATENT OHHIOH.

ARTHUR R. RRIGes, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, AssIGNOR TO POsT a OO.,

" ORsAMH PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN TELEPHONEAND MICROPHONE SWITCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218,702, dated August 19, 1879 application filed June 3, 1879.

To all whom it may concern.-

'Be it known that I, ARTHUR E. BRIGGs, of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Telephone and Microphone Switches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to A the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in Which- Figure l is a perspective view of my improved switch. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a telephone-box with the cover open, and with a microphone-connection. Fig. 3 ,is a view of the box and connections with the cover closed.

Similar letters of reference in the several gures denote the same parts.

My invention is Idesigned to provide a telephone and microphone line with a gravityswitch at each station, by which a communication may be transmitted and received between two stations'and the rest of the line cut out of the circuit.

To this end it consists in the means of'insuring the electric connections of the switch, and in adapting thepoiuts thereof to make the microphoneconnection.

In the drawings, A represents the box, and

B the cover, hinged to one side by five hinges, C D E F G. H is a magneto-engine secured within the box;haviug its armature adapted to be revolved within the cylinder by a crank and pulleys, and its poles connected by Wires I with a break-spring, J, and a contact-spring, K, on the cover, said wires passing through or joining with the hinges D E.

Two contact-springs, K, are employed, one near each edge ofthe cover, immediately over metal blocks L Land under an angular bar, M. One of the blocks L is connected by a wire with the hinge F, and thence to the line, while the opposite block connects with the line wire passing to the hinge C. Both linewires are held by bindin g-posts Within the boX, in the usual manner. y

The break-spring is operated by a push-button, N,- and is also connected to the electromagnets in the opposite side, being connected by a wire, 0, to the outer contact-spring K.

The armature of the electro-magnets causes a hammer to sound one or two bells mounted upon the outside of the cover.

P is the microphone, and Q the battery, having their primary wires connected to a binding-post, R, said binding-post being also connected to the angular lever M by a wire, M', on the outside of the cover near one edge, and to the binding-post S, upon the shank of which the T-headed switch W is hung. The secondary wires connect with the binding-postRItl, and from the latter a Wire extends across the cover to one of two binding-posts, R2. The other binding-post is electricallyconnected to the hinge G, from which the groundwire extends, and both these binding-posts together carry the telephone.

The signals are made by pushing in the pin N, so as to break the short circuit established through the wires I I, hinges D E, and springs J K, connected with the hinges when the mag neto engine is operated, and throw it onto the line.

The telephone is adapted to be hung upon a hook formed on the lower end of the switch when the line is not in operation to transmit a communication, and thus the head of the switch is held normally out of `contact with the springs K. When, however, a communi cation is to be made or received, the switch is swung either to the right or left, according to the direction in which the message is to be passed, and one of its beveled arms passes under the contact spring K, lifting it from its connecting-block L. This breaks the connection with the line on that side and establishes it on the other, while at the same time it brings the telephone and microphone lines into circuit. This is due to the fact that the binding-post serves as a medium for transmittin g the primary current through the switc'h and to the spring K, with which it is in contact, and thus the switch itselrqv is made a part of the circuit.

To insure a perfect contact a at spring, K1, is attached to the switch at one end, so that its free end shall press outward against the head of the screw K2, by which the switch is secured to the shank of its binding-post. The

micrnplioue is electrically connected, and prnvideil with a spring, K, bearing against the head of the sllankeonneetion et the post, suhstantially as described, for the purpose specitied.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of May, A. D. 1879. A

ARTHUR. E. BRIGGS.

Witnesses:

E. A. ELLSWORTH, W. LAeKSTOCK. 

